Zimbabwe: Welfare of Farm Workers

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they are doing to promote the cause of farm workers in Zimbabwe threatened with destitution under the Land Acquisition Act.

Baroness Amos: It is estimated that up to 200,000 farm workers and their families could be affected if the seizure of 841 commercial farms goes ahead. Farm workers are amongst the poorest people in Zimbabwe, and a group without many economic and political rights. DFID is presently funding a Zimbabwean NGO, The Farm Community Trust of Zimbabwe, FCTZ, which is working to improve farm worker welfare and as an advocate on behalf of farm worker rights, including through the Government's technical support unit.

Mr Leslie Watkinson: Killing

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the killing of Mr Leslie Watkinson, aged 66, near his home in Hooks Road, Peckham, on 9 December 1994, was classified as a racist crime.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I understand from the commissioner that this incident was not classified as a racist crime.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the size of the staff supporting HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Inspectorate currently has 20 full time members of staff, which includes inspectors, research, development and secretariat staff. Additionally, support includes one part-time consultant, 17 specialist inspectors and two students on a six-month work placement.

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisons and other establishments were inspected by or on behalf of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in 1999.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: In total, 31 prisons and establishments were inspected by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons in 1999.

Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1997

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22 May (WA 64-65), when they will announce the timetable of the consultation exercise about options for modernising the Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1997.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Arrangements and documentation are being prepared now. Subject to final Ministerial approval, it is expected the initial consultation period will commence in a few weeks' time. I will ensure that the noble Baroness receives further details when they become available.

EU Stability and Growth Pact:Application to UK

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact of 1997 will apply to the United Kingdom and other states which have not joined the single currency as well as to the eleven single currency states.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Under the terms of the protocol on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Article 104(1) (ex Article 104C(1)) shall not apply to the United Kingdom unless it moves to the third stage of EMU. Instead, Article 116(4) (ex Article 109e(4)) will continue to apply.
	Furthermore, Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 states that Articles 104(9) and 104(11) shall only apply to member states which have adopted the single currency.

Tax Rates in the EU

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current top rate of tax on personal incomes in each country of the European Union, indicating in respect of each the threshold of income (expressed in pounds sterling and euros) at which this tax rate applies.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: This information can be found in the OECD publication Taxing Wages: Taxes and Wages and Salaries, Social Security Contributions for Employees and their Employers, Child Benefits, a copy of which is being placed in the Library.

Tax Rates in the EU

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the top rate of personal inheritance tax, or other comparable tax at death, in each country of the European Union.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  percentage 
			 Austria 60 
			 Belgium 80 
			 Denmark 36.25 
			 Finland 48 
			 France 60 
			 Germany 50 
			 Greece 60 
			 Italy 33 
			 Luxembourg 48 
			 Netherlands 68 
			 Portugal 50 
			 Republic of Ireland 40 
			 Spain 34 
			 Sweden 30 
			 UK 40 
		
	
	Source: 2000 IBFD Supplementary Service to European Taxation.

Maternity Pay and Parental Leave: Review

Baroness Gale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the terms of reference are for the review of maternity pay and parental leave.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The review will consider the steps needed to make sure that parents have choices to help them balance the needs of their work and their children so that they may contribute fully to the competitiveness and productivity of the modern economy.
	2. The review will seek:
	To examine how the economy is changing, particularly in relation to working patterns, and what the needs of the modern economy will be;
	To identify how competitiveness and productivity in this context can be enhanced through giving families reasonable choices to help them to balance the needs of their children and work.
	3. In doing so, it will take into account:
	The impact of maternity pay and parental leave on business, particularly SMEs, and families, including whether it is possible to simplify the implementation of existing legislation;
	Best practice in business and its impact, including the extent to which employers currently offer additional entitlements or flexible arrangements;
	Factors affecting women's decisions to return to work after childbirth;
	Factors affecting the take up of parental and paternity leave;
	Impact of returning to work part-time, from home or on flexible hours;
	Reducing child poverty, including the particular probelms faced by the workless and by parents receiving the Working Families Tax Credit.
	4. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry will chair a ministerial group to help co-ordinate the work of the review. Other members of the group are:
	
		
			  
			 Baroness Jay Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Privy Seal and Minister for Women 
			 Andrew Smith Chief Secretary to the Treasury 
			 Lord Falconer Minister of State, Cabinet Office 
			 Tessa Jowell Minister of State DfEE 
			 Margaret Hodge Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DfEE 
			 Baroness Hollis Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DSS 
			 Alan Johnson Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DTI 
			 David Irwin Chief Executive, Small Business Service 
		
	
	5. There will be extensive consultation and detailed research to back up the review.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 8 June, what type and make of cars are used by the Scottish Office.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The Scotland Office does not operate any cars other than those provided under contract with the Government Car and Despatch Agency, which are provided for Ministers and senior officials.

Amnesiac Shellfish Poisoning

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have studied the evidence from France and Chile of a link between fish farming and the spread of amnesiac shellfish poisoning in shellfish.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are not aware of any evidence that links fish farming and the spread of amnesiac shellfish poison (ASP) or any other marine biotoxin. Having consulted the relevant United Kingdom experts on ASP, it has not been possible to find details of the evidence to which the noble Lord refers. If the noble Lord wishes to supply me with the evidence to which he refers, I will ask our experts to study it.

Elderly NHS Patients: Abuse Allegations

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they now have an approximate date for completion of the investigations by the National Health Service Executive and the General Medical Council into Dr Rita Pal's dossier of cases of abuse of elderly patients in NHS hospitals overdosed with diamorphine.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The General Medical Council are contining their efforts to arrange a meeting between their solicitors and Dr Pal in order to obtain further clarification of the allegations.

GM Food Crop European Part CMarketing Consents

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many versions of genetically modified food crops have already been granted a European Part C marketing consent; and
	Whether the purpose of the Farm Scale Evaluations will be undermined by European Part C marketing consents.

Lord Whitty: The following food crops have been granted European-wide Part C consents under Directive 90/220.
	
		For import and processing of grain only:
		
			 Company Reference Crop Genetic Modification Consent Issued 
			 Monsanto C/GB/94/M/3/1 Soybeans Herbicide tolerance May 96 
			 AgrEvo C/GB/95/M/5/1 3 Maize Herbicide tolerance June 98 
			 Northrup king C/GB/96/M/4/1 Oilseed Rape Insect herbicide tolerance June 98 
		
	
	
		For import, processing and cultivation:
		
			 Company Reference Crop Genetic Modification Consent Issued 
			 Ciba-Geigy C/F/4/11-3 Maize Insect and Herbicide tolerance Feb 97 
			 Monsanto C/F/95/12/02 Maize Insect resistance Aug 98 
			 AgrEvo C/F/95/12/07 Maize Herbicide tolerance Aug 98 
		
	
	The purpose of the Farm Scale Evaluations will not be undermined because the government agreement with the industry body SCIMAC reached in November 1999 precludes general cultivation of GM crops until after the conclusion of the farm scale evaluations of that crop whether or not the particular crop has Part C approval for marketing under EU Directive 90/220.

Charter Markets

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to reform the law with regard to charter markets; and whether they are aware of any cases where the current law relating to markets has prevented a farmers' market from taking place.

Lord Whitty: The previous government reviewed the charter market arrangements in 1993. At the time, local government and businesses strongly favoured the retention of the arrangements, which were seen as a valuable control on car boot sales and other temporary uses. The Government are currently conducting research to ascertain whether local authorities' existing powers to control such temporary uses are sufficient.
	We are aware of recent claims that the establishment and expansion of some farmers' markets have been inhibited by the charter market arrangements. The Government will consider whether to review the current arrangements in the light of the research.

Local Authorities: Purchasing Policy Constraints

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Section 17 of the Local Government Act 1988 is preventing local authorities from pursuing a local purchasing policy with regard to food; and whether the restrictions that seem to apply to local authorities also apply to other bodies such as National Health Service trusts.

Lord Whitty: The Government recognise that local authorities may wish to consider adopting local purchasing policies but it is for them to judge how far this can be done within existing UK and EU legislation.
	Local authorities are limited in their scope to use procurement to pursue local purchasing policies by Section 17 of the Local Government Act 1988, which sets out a number of "non-commercial matters" which must be excluded from the contract process. The 1988 Act does not apply to National Health Service trusts. However, a more significant dimension is the EC Treaty and the European Directives for Public Procurement. These apply to all public contracting bodies, including National Health Service trusts.
	EC procurement directives, which are implemented in the UK by various public procurement regulations, prohibit discrimination on the grounds of nationality. To bring local purchasing considerations into the contracting process may well conflict with these wider requirements. In addition to requiring contracts to be awarded on the basis of non-discrimination, transparency and competitive procurement principles, the EC Directives/UK Regulations set out detailed procedures and criteria for the selection of tenderers and the award of contracts. The selection criteria relate to the financial standing, technical capacity and personal standing of the companies involved and the award criteria cover what is necessary to deliver value for money in performing the contract.
	However it is open to local authorities to build non-discriminatory quality factors into contract specifications for the procurement of goods and services under Best Value and to take account of this in the evaluation of bids. They could also assist local suppliers to tender for work by, for example, holding briefing sessions which explained the way that the authority tendered, how and where it advertised forthcoming work and how firms should respond to those requests.

GM Pollen: Effect on Bees

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether studies will be commissioned into the effects of genetically modified pollen ingested and dispersed by bees and other insects.

Lord Whitty: Each application for the release of genetically modified (GM) plants for research purposes is supported by a risk assessment, which is evaluated by government experts and independent scientists on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Bee foraging behaviour is well understood and expertise on bees and their behaviour is available to ACRE. When foraging a crop with high flower density, a bee may fly for some metres, possibly hundreds of metres, to a particular area of the crop. ACRE always takes account of pollen dispersal by bees and its likely consequences. ACRE also considers the possible effects of GM crops on other insects when advising whether or not to approve consents for GM crop plantings. If there was any reason to believe the crop would be harmful, its release would not be approved.
	My department is aware of recent reports from Germany about the possible effects on bees of ingesting GM pollen. Once this research has been finalised, published and peer reviewed, ACRE will advise if any further research is needed.

Small On-farm Incinerators

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is their policy that small on-farm incinerators should be allowed to continue in operation.

Lord Whitty: Yes, provided there is an appropriate degree of environmental protection.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When is work to start on the Birmingham Northern Relief Road.

Lord Whitty: The Highways Agency is currently making progress with arrangements for the compulsory purchase of land. Work to clear the site will be undertaken in the autumn and will continue into next year in preparation for construction to start in the spring. A copy of an edited version of the Concession Agreement prepared in accordance with the judgment of the High Court has been placed in the Library.

European Justice Ministers' Conference

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total cost to public funds of government hospitality during the current meeting of European Justice Ministers; how many people attended the meeting of Ministers; what is the cost per head; and whether the costs were approved by the Lord Chancellor.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: With most of the accounts now received, the projected final cost of mounting the conference as a whole is £133,314.35 (excluding VAT). Two hundred and two delegates, including Ministers and officials, attended, equating to a cost of £659.97 per head. This figure was within the budgetary ceiling that I approved.

North-East Coast Salmon Drift Net Fishery

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent talks they have had with the North Sea drift net fishermen on the progress being made to close the North Sea Drift Fishery; and whether compensation is being considered to assist the process.

Baroness Hayman: No recent discussions have taken place with fishermen on the phase-out of the North-East coast salmon drift net fishery. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review recommended that the phase-out should be accelerated, with compensation offered to netsmen to encourage them to leave this fishery on a voluntary basis as soon as possible. The Government are currently seeking views on the review's recommendations, and will make their response to them later in the year.

Feed Wheat Prices

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the average price of feed wheat produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

Baroness Hayman: The average price of feed wheat produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years was as follows:
	
		
			 Year £/tonne 
			 1989 104.8 
			 1990 110 
			 1991 116 
			 1992 117.8 
			 1993 121 
			 1994 106.9 
			 1995 115.4 
			 1996 111 
			 1997 85 
			 1998 73.9 
			 1999 73.1